Tension cable and method of applying same



Feb. 23, 1937. J HOWE 207L694;

' TENS-ION CABLE AND METHOD OF APPLYING SAME Filed Nov. 14, 1932 F 1 g"- I 1 a 5 Z 55 ,5, g

' 12206 0507: Jame-5 Fae/e557 Hon Ls,

Patented Feb. 23,. 1937 I 2,011,094 y TENSION canes AND METHOD OF APPLY- ma SAME James Forrest Howe, Worcester, Mass assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 14,1932, Serial No. 642,845.

' 4 Claims; (c1. 18931.5)

This invention relates to an improved guy or tension cableand method of applying the same to insure the proper degree of tensioning while supporting loads, any other. use-to ,which atension cable is susceptible.

In the manufacture of w ire cable or rope it is 4 the practice to stretch thesame under a determined tension for a length of time in order that there willbe no structural yield, and very little elastic stretch, remaining in the cable. If this is not done, the cable, after it has been installed under tension for a short length of time, will stretch,

and the rigidity of the guy of which the cable is part will be impaired. Howev r, after the cable has been stretched and delivered to the field of its use there is no satisfactory means available for subjecting the same to the exact amountof tension, or elastic stretch, for which it is intended. By the practice of my invention this difiiculty is obviated.

One object of my invention is to provide a cable having incorporated therewith means for exactly determining its tension both during. and after its installation. These and other objects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawing and specification Inthe drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a guy rigging applied to a vertical structure, such as a stack. Figure 2 is a plan view of my improved cable, together with its tension determining means.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the cable is indicated by the numeral 2. manufacture the cable is subjected to ing in a tensioning' machine of any con entional design for a considerablelength of tinie in order to assure that there will be no appreciable stretch left in the cable. After the stretching operation 4 to remove the structural yield,the cable 2 is subjected to a further and determined tension, or elastic stretch to which it will, or should be, subjected while in use. During this further tensioning one or more markers I are rigidly fixed to the These markers 1 45 cable 2 at determined points.

comprise annular rings .of zinc material and have lines surfaces. Theuposition of the'markers is determined by the use of a measure 4 having lines 4' 50 inscribed thereon. i

One use of my improved cable is illustrated in Figure l of the drawing, in which a vertical stack is indicated at Ii and is intended to be braced or guyed. An annular ring 6 is clamped on the 55 stack and has associated therewith fixed elements or other suitable to which are secured the terminals 1 of one end i of the guy cable 2. The other end of the guy guying vertical structures or After its retchleasing the tension on said cable.

3 inscribed on their ment thereon.

cable is showmas' provided with terminals 8 which are in turn secured to fastening members 8* of ground anchors 9 which are positioned at aplurality of points around the base of the stack.

In order to assure the exact degree of tautness the cables are gradually tensioned until the lines l on the markers 3 are made to coincide exactly with the lines 4* on the measure 4.

. A modified method can be provided by originally manufacturing the cable with the markers fixed thereto and in making the lines 4* on the 'measure 4 to coincide with the lines of the markers 3.

A still further modification is to provide but one marker] and to measure the degree of tension, or elastic stretch, ofthe cable in use from one or both of its ends. 7

1 ,While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not-wish to be limited exactly thereto,

since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as defined by the following claims. I claim:

stretched tension cable and a marking element or elements fixed to said cableat at, least one determined point from the ends thereof while the same isunder a further and determined tension.

2.. As a new article of manufacture, a prestretched tension cable and a plurality of marking elements fixed to said cable in determined I .25 a has a new article of manufacture, a pre-' relationship with respect to each other and while said cable isunder a further and determined tension. a i i 3. The method of applying'tension cables which consists in subjecting a preformed cable toa tension sufilcient to take up approximately the major portion of its structural yield, marking said cable along its length while his under said tension, re-

installing said cable. in the field of use, and subjecting the same to a tensiondetermined by the position of the marking thereon. I

4. The method of applying tension cables which consists in subjectin a preformed cable to a tension sufllcient to take up approximately the major portion of its structural yield, subjecting the I same to a further tension, afiixing to said cable along its length at least one marking element while it is under said tension. releasing the tension on said cable,'installing said cable in the field of use, and subjectingthe same to a tension determined by-the position of the marking ele- JAurss roaans'r news. 

